Rent a boat to navigate on the Canal du Nivernais
Crisboat - Expert in river boat rental for over 20 years
view Map
Boat rental on the Canal du Nivernais. Discover the highlights of this river cruise between Decize and Migennes
From Decize, many itineraries are available to you. You can leave for Briare for a river cruise in the heart of Burgundy, for Chalon-Sur-Saône to navigate on the Canal du Centre, or for Auxerre to navigate in the heart of nature. It is in this direction that we propose to take you.
Let's go for 180 km of navigable waterways. In this navigation area you have 6 departure bases: Migennes, Mailly-Sur-Château, Tannay, Corbigny, Châtillon-En-Bazois and Decize. You will find a towpath along the way, so don't forget your bikes to enjoy it!
Cities and villages to discover during your cruise
See the current offers
Navigation conditions for renting a boat without a licence on the Canal du Nivernais
The Nivernais Canal stretches for 180km and winds from the Decize cottages to the vineyards of the Auxerrois. This canal has 116 locks. They are automatic and operated by lock keepers, making navigation easier and less tiring. It is the ideal destination for those who wish to enjoy a river experience punctuated by the passage of locks and in the heart of nature.
There are several departure bases on this canal: Joigny, Migennes, Mailly-le-Château, Tannay, Corbigny, Châtillon-en-Bazois and Decize. All the departures of the boat cruises are in the afternoon and before leaving, you will receive a short training of 1 hour to familiarize you with your boat without a licence.
- Impressive crossing of 3 tunnels by boat
- Water sport activities at the Baye pond
- Cruise in the heart of Burgundy's countryside
The locks are automatic or electric and most are manned by lock keepers, except on the Canal du Nivernais and the Canal du Centre where some are manual. The locks are closed the 1st of May, the 14th of July and the 1rst of November.
During the season locks are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and are closed for lunch between 12:00-13:00 (1:00 p.m.).
The Roanne to Digoin canal is closed from mid-April to the end of June 2025 due to a leak on the canal.
On the Canal du Nivernais, there is a ladder of 16 consecutive locks: l'échelle de Sardy.
Between Saint Jean de Losne and Mâcon, you must only stop at designated moorings, elsewhere you can moor anywhere along the banks in the heart of the countryside.
The Nivernais Canal - our suggested cruises
Chatillon en Bazois
round trip
Migennes
round trip
Decize
round trip
Corbigny
round trip
Tannay
round trip
Joigny
round trip
Joigny
round trip
Mailly Le Château
round trip
Corbigny
round trip
Tannay
round trip
Mailly Le Château
round trip
Corbigny
round trip
Joigny
round trip
Corbigny
round trip
Decize
round trip
Migennes
round trip
Chatillon en Bazois
round trip
Plagny
round trip
Chatillon en Bazois
round trip
Migennes
round trip
Mailly Le Château
round trip
Tannay
round trip
Joigny
round trip
Corbigny
round trip
Corbigny
round trip
Decize
round trip
Briare
Chatillon en Bazois
Joigny
Corbigny
Corbigny
Dompierre
Tannay
round trip
Tannay
Decize
Chatillon en Bazois
Digoin
Gastronomy
Swimming
River constructions
Monument
Mailly Le Château
round trip
Gastronomy
Monument
Vineyard
Nature
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Migennes
round trip
Chatillon en Bazois
round trip
Monument
Nature
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Dompierre
round trip
Decize
Tannay
Corbigny
round trip
Corbigny
Joigny
Joigny
round trip
Migennes
Tannay
Chatillon en Bazois
Mailly Le Château
Nature
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Monument
Dompierre
Corbigny
Tannay
Migennes
Corbigny
round trip
Chatillon en Bazois
Briare
Mailly Le Château
Chatillon en Bazois
Nature
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Monument
Decize
round trip
Joigny
round trip
Joigny
Corbigny
Corbigny
Joigny
Digoin
Chatillon en Bazois
Gastronomy
Swimming
River constructions
Monument
Migennes
Tannay
Tannay
round trip
Chatillon en Bazois
Mailly Le Château
Migennes
round trip
Corbigny
round trip
Corbigny
round trip
Decize
round trip
Tannay
Migennes
Chatillon en Bazois
round trip
Migennes
Tannay
Mailly Le Château
round trip
Migennes
round trip
Chatillon en Bazois
Mailly Le Château
Corbigny
round trip
Tannay
round trip
Tannay
Decize
Corbigny
round trip
Decize
round trip
Tannay
Migennes
Plagny
round trip
Migennes
Tannay
Tannay
round trip
Migennes
round trip
Chatillon en Bazois
round trip
Gastronomy
Swimming
River constructions
Monument
Decize
round trip
Migennes
Tannay
Tannay
Migennes
Mailly Le Château
round trip
Migennes
round trip
Tannay
round trip
Joigny
round trip
Corbigny
round trip
Corbigny
round trip
Joigny
round trip
Plagny
round trip
Also to be discovered
Here is the list of possible cruises on the Canal du Nivernais
From €251 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Two steering positions
Bow thruster
Plancha
220 V converter
Air cooler
Bimini Top
Flat-screen TV
Dishwasher
Electric toilets
From €170 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 3
- Bathroom & Toilet : 3
Two steering positions
220 V converter
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €207 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 10
- Cabins : 4
- Bathroom & Toilet : 4
Two steering positions
Bow thruster
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €234 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 5
- Cabins : 1
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €205 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 8
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Two steering positions
Bimini Top
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €306 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Two steering positions
220 V converter
Air cooler
Microwave
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €380 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 9
- Cabins : 4
- Bathroom & Toilet : 4
Two steering positions
Bow and Stern Thruster
Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity
Air-Conditioning
Bimini Top
Microwave
Electric toilets
From €330 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Two steering positions
220 V converter
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €423 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 7
- Cabins : 3
- Bathroom & Toilet : 3
Two steering positions
Bow and Stern Thruster
Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity
Air-Conditioning
Bimini Top
Microwave
Electric toilets
From €345 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 3
- Bathroom & Toilet : 3
Two steering positions
Bow thruster
220 V converter
Air cooler
Microwave
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €308 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 3
- Bathroom & Toilet : 3
Two steering positions
220 V converter
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €397 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 8
- Cabins : 3
- Bathroom & Toilet : 3
Two steering positions
Bow thruster
Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity
Air-Conditioning
Bimini Top
Flat-screen TV
Microwave
Electric toilets
From €317 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 1
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Two steering positions
220 V converter
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €333 / pers
Week of the 5/3/25 to 5/10/25
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Two steering positions
Bow thruster
220 V converter
220V socket
Electric toilets
Customer testimonials
4.6/5
(based on 61 opinion)
"Magnifiques"
"C'était chouette"
"Dépaysante"
"Reposant, déstressant"
"Relaxant et dépaysant"
"I wish I could have stayed another week."
"The cruise lived up to our expectations: a guaranteed change of scenery !"
"The scenery is magnificent and the lock-keepers very friendly."
"The scenery is magnificent and the lock-keepers very friendly."
"Excellent."
"Pleasant for a first time."
"Pleasant, a refreshing change of scenery, instructive and challenging - free choice of stops and breaks - very pleasant staff in charge of the locks - warm, direct contact."
"There are a lot of locks to go through in the sector we've chosen."
"In 3 days, you don't navigate very far, but the main aim was to stroll along the canal, no matter how far we went."
"Very nice, but next time I'll take a route with fewer locks to cross (we passed 80 in total)."
"A very natural cruise, if you're looking for total relaxation, the Canal du Nivernais is perfect. However, next time we'll choose an itinerary with fewer locks, as navigation depends on their opening times."
"Very nice. But if we had to do it again, we'd choose a river with slightly fewer locks. We preferred the more rustic Canal du Nivernais section."
"Wonderful."
"An interesting and relaxing cruise."
"We are happy with our choice, beautiful nature and nice little towns to visit."
"Very pleasant discovery of the Nivernais. Very friendly contact with the people who live around the canal."
"Beautiful, with great weather."
"An enriching experience both in terms of contact with the CRISBOAT staff and the very nice and friendly lock keepers."
"Very nice experience."
"Very pleasant and relaxing - 3 consecutive days are perfect"
"Very pleasant region and stopovers. Large number of locks."
"auto-translation :''The countryside was beautiful and peaceful. There were very few options for restaurants or buying food, some advance information about this would have been useful.''"
"auto-translation :''Calm and Nature''"
"auto-translation :''Beautiful landscapes and structures (locks and tunnels) No local traders in the locks Supply problem''"
"auto-translation :''Was very nice, decelerating''"
"auto-translation :''Excellent experience with 2 children of 10 years old''"
"auto-translation :''Pretty landscapes, few tourist attractions: visit, terroir''"
"auto-translation :''Exotic''"
"auto-translation :''Relaxation, conviviality''"
"Great"
"auto-translation :''Great''"
"auto-translation :''Very nice and well accompanied by the lock keepers''"
"Beautiful countryside’ lovely and quiet! Lovely places to moor up!"
"auto-translation :''Very relaxing''"
"Beautifull countryside, however too many locks"
"auto-translation :''The landscape from Migennes is not very charming but improves after.''"
"auto-translation :''Cruise a bit long which leaves little time for cycling and discovery over 7 days''"
"auto-translation :''Nice cruise''"
"auto-translation :''We were lucky to have had good weather. The lock keepers are great.''"
"auto-translation :''Canal du Nivernais, very beautiful canal, very well maintained.''"
"auto-translation :''Disorienting, relaxing. Varied and hilly landscapes. Refueling sometimes difficult but we knew and had planned a well stocked storeroom''"
"auto-translation :''Very pleasant''"
"auto-translation :''Ideally well sized''"
"auto-translation :''All participants were delighted with this cruise. Only downside concerning the weather!''"
"auto-translation :''Great experience that we will renew''"
"Very good, Canal was not busy ."
"auto-translation :''Great''"
"auto-translation :''A great time in a beautiful landscape, relaxing.''"
"auto-translation :"Great discovery, corresponded to our expectations""
"auto-translation :"Satisfied with our cruise choices""
"auto-translation :"Location really wild , no nearby ports , very few shops. Warning locks are closed July 14 on the Canal du Nivernais""
"auto-translation :"Pleasant landscapes , but too few supply opportunities""
"auto-translation :"Change of scenery , calm and rest . It lives to the rhythm of bateau.Agréable , relaxing beauty of wildlife""
"auto-translation :"Very good, very pleasant cruising""
"auto-translation :"Canal varied , with for the first time passing through a tunnel""
Travelling with CrisBoat
Crisboat has more than 90% of the French fleet of self drive river boats. Entrust us with your desires and your availabilities and we will shape your holidays on the water. Located in the heart of the Vienne, Crisboat is the leader in self driver river boat rental in France. Discover our team, made up of 6 experts ready to take up the challenge to design the cruise that will meet your expectations.
Satisfaction: 4,5 / 5
Cris Boat Blog
5-night cruise in Burgundy on the Canal du Nivernais
TOP 5 practical equipment for river cruising
"Dépaysant, connecté à la nature, de belles rencontres"